Detailed and concise study notes from the Bamberg Witch Hunt depth study. Ideal for revision Edexcel History A level.
Covering the following (from the spec) -
DEPTH: THE GREAT WITCH-HUNT IN BAMBERG, GERMANY 1623-32
The economic, political and religious context:
• reclaiming territory fo...
THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Collection of political entities existing between 962 and 1806
Geographical and religious boundaries overlapped, with Catholics living alongside Calvinists and Lutherans after the
reformation
Town and village courts had a huge amount of freedom to make their own judgments, juries were selected from the
localities. Cases could however be referred to the governor of a particular territory.
Some areas had very little or no witch-hunting with others executing hundreds or thousands.
THE IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHY AND POLITICS
1548 – it was decided that the ruler of a region should decide the religion
-> religious tolerance encouraged but there was a lack of central power to enforce this
Sometimes the ruler would be part of a minority ruling over a population of majority something else
This led to friction
The Counter-Reformation and the Thirty Years War
1. What relationship did Bamberg have with the Catholic Church?
The principality was set up to spread Christianity and was ruled over by “prince-bishops”
2. Why was the Holy Roman Empire particularly confusing?
A bishop might have judicial control over one area but lack the power to set up courts elsewhere
3. Define ‘Counter-Reformation’
A reform movement within the catholic church opposing the protestant reformations
4. What was the Jesuit order?
anti-protestant Catholic order approved by the pope in 1540
5. How did Protestants respond to the rising Jesuits?
Believed they were in league with the devil
6. What link is described regarding the link between the Thirty Years War and witchcraft?
Most German states which became embroiled in war were also later major witch-hunting areas
7. Why did the Thirty Years War begin?
The Habsburgs wanted to expand their influence, usually through marriage, however were opposed by
militant protestants
1. What happened in Prague?
The defenestration of Prague = the revolt of the Bohemians against the Hapsburgs who wanted to
prevent them from practicing Protestantism. 3 leading catholic nobles were thrown out of a 70ft high
window, sparking conflict.
CHALLENGE: Summarise why you think the Counter Reformation and the Thirty Years War led to a witch-hunt
The counter-reformation led to increased religious division as it provided a vehicle through which Catholics could
channel their feelings of disquiet. It sparked the 30 years war which embroiled much of the HRE. The war led to huge
levels of poverty and the desire for a scapegoat – obviously these are huge precursors to WITCH CRAZES!
WHY WERE THE TRIALS IN GERMANY SO BRUTAL?
Over 9 years, up to 900 witches in the small state of Bamberg were executed.
• The fact that political and judicial authority in Germany was s fragmented meant that panics could easily take
hold as there was no overall authority capable of stopping it
, • The reformation and counter-reformation led to Germans fearing that the devils work is all around them.
• Germany had a limited legal framework – justice in witch trials was considered a local matter making it very
difficult for a higher authority to step in.
• Those who were targeted include:
o Sexually deviant women (stemmed from protestant belief that priests did not necessarily need to live
a celibate life)
o People whose political views conflicted with the Catholic authorities
o People who had an exisiting reputation as cunning folk – became the scapegoats for destruction
taking place across Bamberg
o Members of the upper class following Prince Bishop von Dornheim’s introduction of the law which
allowed the confiscation of a witches property
Contrasting views
Trevor Roper – corrolates the “catholic reconquest of Germany” with “the climax of European witch craze”, thus
seeming to suggest that witch hunting was an extension of “forced conversion of protestants”, forming another arm
of the catholic state whuch could be used to prevent dissidence.
Anker, Monter and Clark – argues that to blame it on religion and politics is incorrect due to the fact that “war
disrupted all government activities” including witch hunting. Perhaps they will go on to blame natural causes e.g.
famine and the ice age.
THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE USE OF TORTURE
A HISTORY OF BAMBERG
• a bishop who is also the civil ruler of some secular principality and sovereignty
• Generally the most powerful people within their territory – almost acting as a prime minister with a president (the
emperor) above them
• The Bishops of Bamberg received their princely title in 1245
• From 1609 onwards, Prince-bishop Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen and his successor Johann Georg Fuchs von
Dornheim enacted stern counter-reformation measures.
THE CAROLINA LAW CODE 1532
• The Constitutio Criminalis Carolina = first body of German criminal law
• Agreed in 1530 under HREmpire Charles V and ratified in 1532
• Aimed to unify legal system of HRE and try to reduce the haphazard nature of prosecution
• Agreed to by the states if it worked alongside their own law codes
• BUT
• Under the terms, murder, manslaughter, robbery, arson, homosexuality and witchcraft were designated as
“severe” crimes
• -> this meant that suspicion of these crimes = TORTURE
• Witchcraft in particular was mentioned as a crime in which those found guilty must be burned!!!
Forner provides a religious basis for the witchhunts, and the legal system encourages the use of torture -> THIS LEADS
TO AN EXPLOSION IN CASES
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